I Was Too Young - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

When we got to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, the whole trip was winding to an end. Angkor Wat was the international sensation and we had just checked it off the list during the trip. It was how we traveled back then, in a checking-things-off-of-other-people’s-list kind of way.

Upon arriving at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, I was ready to quickly walk around the once one of 150 torture and execution centers established by the Khmer Rouge, so we could move onto the next site. Yet, the guide started the emotional recounting of what his family and people like his experienced after the fall of Phnom Penh. Half an hour would go by as we stood under the scotching sun. All the while, I was eager to leave and see the exotic and pretty Cambodia that we went to the country for.

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Even so, two things that the guide shared stayed with me. One, after the Khmer Rouge took over the city, everybody with glasses (i.e., the educated) were rounded up and sent to far away places, supposedly to do labor work. Two, his father was one of those people in glasses. They have not heard from him since and do not even know if he’s still alive.

Looking back, I realized I did not have any photographs from the Genocide Museum. I wish I had listened more closely.

It was ten years ago. I was too young.

Man-Praying-Wat-Phnom-Temple-Phnom-Penh-Cambodia-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

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Happy Father's Day - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

If you ask 100 people how a Rakan (Note 1) should look like, you get as many different answers. That’s what gave rise to 1,200 of Rakan statues that Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, the temple at the outskirt of Kyoto, Japan is well-known for.

In the 1980s, under the guidance of chief of temple Kocho Nishimura (Note 2), 1,200 everyday people, who made a pilgrimage to the temple, learned carving to bring out the unique and personal figures that were hiding in the stone, each Rakan statue possessing a particular personality with a distinctly pre-enlightened identity.

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While walking around studying the characters covered in moss, I discovered a face completely cover with hands. Yeah, love can make you blind, I guess.

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As many faces/personalities in the world, I suspect there are varying shapes and forms of fatherhood. Since I’m only one daughter to one man, I’d leave the scientific study to the ones with access to vast amount of data.

What I wanted to say is, enjoy the Father’s Day, knowing that you’ve loved, guided and disciplined to the best of your ability.

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Note 1 Rakan are followers (disciples) of Buddha.
Note 2 Nishimura was a Buddhist statue sculptor and restorer that later becaume a Buddhist monk. He was the chief of the temple at the time of the rakan creations.

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Flying Through Thick and Thin - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

For some reason, the image of this little bird resonates with me today. Amongst the roaring storm, with no end to the difficult time in sight, the seemingly minuscule bird was determined to cut through the wind and fire to reach her destiny in fading light.

It all of sudden reminds me of another brave little bird in Iceland. Do you think our human’s fascination with flying is somehow rooted in the admiration in these tough little flying creatures?

Little-Bird-Flying-Throug-Storm-Camargue-France-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

I was going to show a sequel to my “eyes in Porto, Portugal” post and I digressed. I really hope you don’t mind. This tough little bird needs a sip of margarita before facing a world of storm again.

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